BOOM. 

The first firework illuminated the small apartment with a bright purple glow as Endi’s hands tangled in the fading blue of Chuckles’s mohawk, tugging lightly and drawing a grunt from him. She pulled him towards her, and he followed willingly, stumbling in the dark until he had her pinned against the kitchen wall, his hands finding their way to her waist. Their lips worked frantically against one another, his chapped ones gliding along her silky ones. 

How is she so soft? 

The flash of the firework was short lived, plunging them into the inky black of Lothal’s night as it faded. Blue spots danced in front of Chuckles’s eyes in the sudden darkness, and he blinked rapidly to clear his vision. The sudden quiet was punctuated by the blood pounding in his ears and the sharp breaths coming from Endi’s nose as she pulled him even closer to her. He could smell her perfume, sweet and enticing, and all he could think of was how much more he wanted to taste. Her tongue hungrily traced along his lower lip, and he granted her entrance, unable to stop a groan from bubbling up within him as her teeth grazed his lip. 

He wanted this. He wanted her. 

Two more loud blasts emanated from outside, and in the flash of bright pink light, Chuck could see Endi’s eyes were blown wide, her golden irises tinted by the magenta explosion, but somehow, impossibly dark. Her lashes fluttered closed as her hand clenched the front of his shirt, tangling in the buttons before she popped the first one open with ease. 

Oh.

His heart raced as her nimble fingers undid another button and then another, exposing his chest to her. As the light faded again in the kitchen, her hands finally touched him, no longer an innocent, potentially accidental graze, but with her palms pressed firmly against his chest, trailing through his chest hair and tracing the muscles the mine had carved into him. Her touch sent electricity licking up his spine, and his cock twitched in his pants as her hands slid further under his shirt to his back, her fingers digging into his skin. 

In the darkness, she panted his name in his ear. 

“Chuckles.” 

His hands slipped under her, bunching in her long skirts until he found the backs of her thighs to hold, and she practically leapt into his grasp. She was surprisingly light as he pinned her against the wall, and she writhed in his grip as his lips trailed down her jaw to her throat. His teeth grazed her skin, and she inhaled sharply, tipping her head back to grant him more access. Chuckles nosed at the collar of her blouse, and her hands frantically flew to undo the snaps holding it closed to reveal more skin to him. The first clasp came undone, exposing her collar bone, and Chuckles couldn't wait another moment, trailing his tongue along the newly uncovered flesh before latching onto her skin and sucking a bruise there. He pulled back just as a rapid burst of white strobing fireworks popped sporadically outside, and in the bright light, he saw confirmation of his claim to her in the form of a dark purplish mark forming where her shoulder met her neck. They were panting, staring at one another as the light from the fireworks strobed around them. 

“Bedroom,” Endi said quietly. 

It was all the invitation Chuckles needed. He lowered her to the ground before crashing his lips against hers again clumsily in the dark. Her hands were already working at his belt as she stumbled backwards, haphazardly tugging him along with her. He did his best to stay on his feet, reaching out his hands to fumble around any obstacles as she led him through the darkened apartment to her small sleeping quarters. Another salvo of fireworks exploded outside, casting the tiny bedroom in shades of blue and green. Chuckles barely had time to register the humble desk, wardrobe, and small bed before she jerked him towards it with a surprising strength. He almost fell on top of her, landing between her knees on the mattress. Her chest was heaving, and he took advantage of the brief light source to undo the fortuitously front-facing clasp of her bra, freeing her breasts. He cupped her left one, grazing his thumb over her nipple. She arched into his touch with a gasp, her dark curls spreading across her pillow as orange and pink blasts alternated outside, illuminating her skin in bright colors. 

He leaned down, latching onto her nipple with his lips and gently flicking his tongue against the pebbled flesh experimentally. Endi whined, her hands desperately grabbing at her skirts, pulling them out of the way before her hands were back in his hair, holding his face to her skin.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded. 

Chuckles had no intention of stopping, not now. He laved at her skin with his tongue, working his way back up to her neck and lips, shrugging the last of his inhibitions off with his shirt as he finally allowed himself to revel in the fantasies he’d been chasing from his mind for the last month. 

It felt like an indulgence to allow himself this, to give in to his desires when he’d spent months worrying about Arni and Nita’s safety, convinced that the Empire was always one breath away from finding them. But now, for the first time since the end of the war, he abandoned all of his misgivings in favor of the attraction he’d been nurturing for Endi, allowing her to pull him into her. 

Endi’s hand found his wrist, guiding it between her legs to her panties, which he slid off with ease before pushing his fingers into her. He was met with hardly any resistance, easily burying himself to the knuckle as her eager cunt slicked his hand. She immediately clenched around his digits, whining and panting. The sounds she made sent blood rushing to his cock, and it wasn’t long before he was aching for her as he watched her come undone on his fingertips, her arousal dribbling over his knuckles as he stroked the spongy place inside her. He pressed his thumb to her clit, and she covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a whine. He went to push it away, not wanting to be robbed of a single sound she made, but instead, she pulled his lips to hers, burying the fingers of one hand in his hair while fumbling to undo his pants further with the other. 

Her hand was soft and surprisingly warm when it finally found his cock and freed it from his pants, wrapping around it and stroking him fervently. Her palm was dry, but her grip was just firm enough to provide the perfect amount of friction. His hips jerked on instinct, and he moaned against the skin of her throat as he thrusted into her hand.

“Please,” she whispered against his ear. 

She wrapped her legs around him, digging her heels into his back in invitation, and he took it without hesitation, pushing her skirts up further to give him just enough access to notch his head at her entrance. He could feel the heat radiating off of her as he dragged the tip of his cock through her folds, coating himself in her slick. He wanted to fully undress her, to taste her and take his time with her, and there would be a time and a place for that, but right now, he just wanted to be buried in her warm, welcoming heat and hear the sounds she made just for him. 

Chuckles sank his cock into her easily with a strangled groan and immediately began fucking her at a frantic pace, his loosened belt jingling as the bed creaked beneath them. Her nails scraped the skin of his back as he panted against her skin, inhaling the smell of her sweat and perfume. He was lost in her, discarding all of his inhibitions and worries to sate the need he felt. It wasn’t just the sex; it was sex with her, the woman he’d been pining after but had been afraid to allow himself to pursue. And yet, here he was, giving into his desires as she whined in his ear, her warm, wet cunt clenching around his cock and pulling him further from all of his worries and doubts. 

It was a release in more ways than one, undeniably overdue if his urgency and eagerness was any indication.

The fireworks show continued outside, sporadically illuminating the room in flashes of brilliant colors, and each time, Chuckles stole the opportunity to look up at Endi, taking in everything he was doing to her. Her brows were furrowed and lips were pursed as several quick bursts of gold erupted outside of the window, illuminating her irises as she met his gaze, pulling their foreheads together, panting against his lips. He felt like he was drowning in her eyes as she clenched around him again, seemingly pulling him deeper into her. He dug his toes into the floor, pressing himself even further in as the room faded to black again, sliding his hands under the curves of her ass to give himself a better angle. She wrapped her arms around his neck, digging her nails into his back as she ground herself against him, and the effort formed a thin sheen of sweat across her skin, leaving a salty taste in his mouth as he kissed and licked and sucked every inch of her he could reach. 

She’s perfect. She’s mine. 

His face hit the pillow next to her head, and her hair tickled his nose as he redoubled his efforts with a throaty grunt. Endi cried out, clawing at his back and shoulders, leaving stinging red marks in her wake, and Chuckles felt himself spurred on further at the thought of wearing those marks, of the memories he’d have of this night. 

When the next firework exploded in a burst of purple, he could see Endi’s head was tipped back against her pillow, eyes closed in ecstasy and lips parted as she fisted the blankets. She moaned, and it was the sweetest sound Chuckles could remember hearing. The tendons in her throat were pronounced as her back arched, and Chuckles pressed his lips to the place where her neck met her shoulder, sucking another bruise into her flesh. As the darkness recaptured the room again, he felt her dig her heels into his ass, one hand cradling the back of his head, almost holding him in place as he grazed her throat with his teeth. 

“Right there,” she panted. “I’m close. I’m so close. Don’t stop. Please.” 

Normally, Chuckles was incredibly vocal in the bedroom, but he felt as though the air had been punched from his lungs by the feel of her. He hadn’t intended to come into Endi’s home tonight for any reasons beyond the repair, and he certainly hadn’t planned to fuck her in her bed with their clothes still half on. But here she was, spread beneath him in surrender, pleading with him for her release, and Maker, he would have given her anything she asked for in that moment. 

“W-where?” he grunted. 

“Inside,” she gasped. “I’m ready. Please. Please let me finish, Chuckles.” 

“Together,” he panted against her mouth. “Ready?”

She pressed her forehead against his, nodding frantically, and they locked eyes as Chuckles felt her cunt tighten around him, milking his cock. With a sharp exhale, he let himself go, every spurt of his spend ricocheting up his spine and drawing a whimper from his lips. Endi went rigid, her fingers digging into his skin as her muscles clenched around him. She jolted in his arms as wave after wave of her own orgasm washed over her in tandem with his. After a few moments, she relaxed with a long, shaky breath, and he collapsed next to her, panting hard. 

He watched the rise and fall of her chest, still fully on display thanks to her haphazardly ripped-open blouse. Before he could think about it, he reached his hand out, his fingers grazing the bruise he’d left on her right breast, and she shuddered under his touch, whipping her head around to gaze at him. 

“Sorry,” he murmured. 

She smiled, and it seemed even more dazzling than usual. “S’ok,” she whispered. “The kids can’t see it there.”

They stared at each other for a few more moments, getting lost in one another as the fireworks continued outside. Chuckles felt his cheeks become sore from a smile he didn’t realize he had on his face. It was the widest it had been in a while, perhaps since the end of the war. He giggled quietly. Endi rolled onto her side to face him. 

“What is it?” 

“It’s just… you’re so beautiful,” he whispered. She ducked her head, and he reached forward, pushing some hair from her face before slipping a knuckle under her chin and kissing her tenderly. She melted into him, pulling back with a quiet laugh. 

“Careful,” she whispered, resting her forehead against his. “Otherwise we’ll have to go again.” 

“I fail to see the problem,” he mumbled against her lips, kissing her again. She giggled as he rolled her underneath him. 

Chuckles propped himself up on his elbows, looking down at her, and for just a moment, it wasn’t Endi, but Brienna underneath him as an orange firework lit up the room, her dark curls splayed out on the pillow and a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. He blinked, and Endi was there again, but his stomach twisted slightly from the intrusive memory. 

“Chuckles?” Endi had seen him react, and concern was etched on her face. “Is something wrong?” 

He huffed a sigh, burying his face in her neck. “I didn’t mean to do it like this,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.” Wrapping his arm around her torso, he rested his head on her chest. “I’m not good at the romance thing, clearly.” 

She placed a kiss to his forehead before he felt her fingers toy with his mohawk again. “I didn’t exactly discourage you,” she murmured. “In fact, I wanted it.” 

“True, but you deserve to be taken to dinner. To go dancing. To be doted on,” he said quietly, tracing patterns on her skin with his fingers. His heart clenched at the familiarity of the words, things he’d said to Brienna. They’d been a secret for different reasons, and even now, months later, she felt near enough to intrude in his mind. But Brienna was long gone, and Endi was here, her fingers winding their way through his hair, holding him in a way he never thought he’d be touched again. And for that reason, he let the memory of Bri roll off of his back as he nestled closer to Endi. 

She giggled. “I’m not saying you can’t do all of those things, Chuckles. But I don’t need them.” 

He tilted his head up to find her eyes again just as another golden firework exploded outside, making her irises sparkle. He saw no regret there, no longing for more than he could give. What it was, what they’d done, was apparently enough. She pulled his face to hers, kissing him again. 

“I’m just glad you finally made a move, because I was starting to wonder if I imagined the way you looked at me,” she teased. 

He pulled her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “I wasn’t certain it was appropriate. Given that you’re the kids’ teacher.” 

“Well, we don’t have to tell them. At least not yet.” She laughed again, and the sound reminded Chuckles of windchimes. He smiled, ducking his head bashfully. 

“They’ll figure it out eventually. Arni especially. They don’t miss anything.”

She shrugged. “And when they do, we can talk to them. But for now, I’m fine with meeting you when you can. If that’s only at night after they’re asleep, then you have a place in my bed. And after we tell them, perhaps I’ll have a place in yours.” 

It’s so easy. How is it this easy? 

Chuckles had no idea what to say next. He’d overthought every aspect of what was between him and Endi, but none of his musings had prepared him for this outcome. When not a single word of reply came to him, he kissed her again. “I’m gonna need a bigger bunk.”

Endi giggled, hugging him to her chest. “That’s true, from what you’ve told me. Maybe when you get the kids’ room set up, you can take the bunk they’ve been sharing.” 

“That’s not a half bad idea,” he conceded, smiling up at her. He grazed his nose against hers, gently nuzzling her. “Thank you.”  

She stroked his cheek. “No, thank you. For all of that.” She sat up, closing the clasp on her bra before reaching for his shirt on the floor. “Now, there’ll be time for cuddling and tenderness later, as much as I want it. But we need to get to this fireworks show before it ends and everyone notices our absence. We can still sneak in unnoticed if we hurry.” 

Chuckles kissed her cheek as he pulled his shirt back on. “Yes, ma’am.” 

His legs felt gelatinous as he stood, hurriedly re-doing the buttons on his shirt and tucking it back into his pants as Endi straightened her blouse and smoothed her hair back into a bun before taking a cloth and cleaning between her legs. She looked completely composed in a matter of minutes, and for a moment, Chuckles almost wondered if he’d imagined everything. 

Until she cupped his cock through his pants as she kissed him once more. “Let’s go, Chuckles.” 

He briefly considered bending her over the kitchen counter right then and there, but let the urge pass. 

There’ll be time for that later. And so much more. 

The two of them walked side by side towards the fireworks show, a respectable distance between the two of them that seemed to thrum with electricity. Chuckles wanted to slip his hand into hers, to wrap his arm around her waist and nuzzle against her hair and neck, but he knew he wasn’t ready for everyone else to know just yet. He’d learned quickly that rumors spread through the settlement like wildfire, and his own apprehensions aside, he didn’t want to make Endi the talk of the town. 

And, just for a moment, he wanted whatever was happening to be just theirs. 

They parted ways at the edge of the crowd, Chuckles wandering off to find Arni and Nita as Endi found a place near the back that wouldn’t draw too much attention to her presence. As he cast one last lingering glance over his shoulder, the finale of the fireworks display exploded overhead in a brilliant cacophony of colors and booms. Endi met his eyes, smiling in the way that made his heart flutter in his chest, giving him one last wink before she disappeared from view.

Chuckles couldn’t stop smiling. 

Arni and Nita had joined a group of other children, bouncing and shouting and pointing at the fireworks excitedly as they exploded overhead. Chuckles stood outside the group so as not to intrude, just watching the two younglings that had become his family, his children. He may not have played a part in their creation, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them, and he lived to see them happy and safe. 

And they were. 

As the fireworks concluded, Arni and Nita scampered over to Chuckles, excitedly chattering about the show and asking permission to stay out with their friends and get snacks and play games. Chuckles barely interpreted what was being asked, but distributed a handful of credits to each youngling, and they raced away with their friends, leaving a cloud of swirling dust in their wake. He followed after them down a sidestreet that opened up into a wide patch of grass that had been converted into a field of twinkling lights and magnificent smells. A small grouping of stands had been assembled on one end with carnival games and several booths selling crafts or snacks. Strings of lights hung between them, swinging gently in the cool evening breeze. Wooden mismatched tables had been set out for people to lounge at, and in a patch where the grass gave way to hard dirt, a rudimentary dancing area had been set up. Chuckles noted Jerrno and his twin Teef tuning up some strings instruments while Grinz fiddled with a drum. It was simple, but beautiful to him, and he inhaled deeply, closing his eyes and listening to the laughter and chatter of the crowd that had gathered. 

“Jerrno and Teef do a pretty good job, eh?” a familiar voice asked from next to him. Chuck turned to find Anj, Helly, and Lu gathered at one of the tables he was standing near. Helly waved cheerily and pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. The weave must have contained every color in the galaxy, but it seemed to fit her perfectly, and Chuckles half wondered if she’d made it herself. Lu tipped the wide brim of the hat he was wearing at Chuckles before sipping from a flask, which he offered. Chuck took the flask, sniffing cautiously before taking a swig and immediately choking. 

“Karking hells, Lu. What is this?”

“Whiskey,” the Nikto replied evenly, the corners of his mouth turning upwards slightly.

Chuck coughed again, shaking his head and handing the flask back. “I’ve had whiskey. Bad whiskey that could take paint off a starcruiser. That’s hyperdrive coolant.” 

Lu huffed a laugh, tipping the flask back into his own mouth without so much as batting an eye. 

“The Kern brothers do the fireworks?” Chuck asked, trying to ignore the watering of his eyes and the burn at the back of his throat. 

“They are demolitions experts by trade,” Helly noted. “These just happen to go upwards. And be prettier.” 

Anj stood and sidled up to Chuckles, eyeing him in a way that made him want to squirm. She leaned closer as Helly started lecturing Lu about the difference between the chemical compositions of the fireworks and the explosives they used in the mine. To his credit, the Nikto was listening intently or doing a very good job of pretending. 

Anj leaned closer to Chuckles, lowering her voice so no one else would hear. “So, seems you missed a good bit of the show,” she noted, giving him a nudge with her shoulder. 

Chuckles hated how easily his face flushed with heat at her observation. He shrugged causally. “Was helping out with some repairs down at the schoolhouse.” 

Anj reached up with a finger and tugged the collar of his shirt aside, revealing a darkening bruise that Chuckles hadn’t even felt Endi leave. “Ah, is that what they’re calling it these days?” she asked, her teeth glinting in the lights. “Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.” She winked at him. “Now come on, ask me to dance, Chuckles. It’s only right.” 

“Not much of a dancer,” he muttered, but the Nautolan grabbed him by the arm and dragged him towards the patch of dirt, waving her hand at his protests. 

“Nonsense. I’ll teach you the steps.” She finally spun around to face him, grabbing both of his wrists and dragging him to the middle of the gathering. Chuck felt like his face was going to melt off. He caught a glimpse of Endi at the edge of the crowd, watching him with a playful glint in her eye. 

“Eyes on me, Chuck. I’m your dance partner at the moment,” Anj scolded. “Now, hold my waist like a gentleman.” She pulled his hands to rest on the hips of her coveralls before glancing over at Endi and winking. The Wroonian smiled, watching the two of them as Anj started giving direction. 

“So, you gonna tell me how it happened?” Anj asked, nudging his feet apart further with one of her toes.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Chuck countered, shifting his weight to accommodate her adjustments. 

“Bantha shit. And I won’t push, but you’re no fun,” Anj teased. “Especially when you know my secret. And yours hardly classifies as that with the way you two make eyes at each other every time you're around one another.” 

Anj took a step, and Chuckles mirrored it as she gently tugged him with her. He sighed, lowering his voice. “Alright, fine. Things happened. Quickly. But we’re keeping it quiet until we’re sure it’s serious enough to tell the kids.” He leaned closer. “And I don’t want people to talk about her.” 

“Or you.”

“They already talk about me,” he said quietly, eyeing two figures standing in the crowd that seemed to be meandering towards Endi. It wasn’t hard to identify Kit and Bronce, the two humans on his mining crew. The perpetual scowls they directed at him were easy enough to pick out of a crowd, and he didn’t like how they seemed to be working their way closer to Endi, finally engaging her in conversation. She seemed as though she was being polite enough, but her eyes kept darting over to him. 

Anj followed his line of sight, her smile fading slightly when she caught sight of the two men. “They’re just assholes,” she muttered. “But I appreciate where you’re coming from. Mum’s the word, but for what it’s worth, I’m glad. You needed to let yourself have that happiness.” 

Chuck smiled at Endi, and she grinned back. Kit and Bronce’s glares became more heated as they realized who Endi was watching. Pride roared through Chuckles. 

“I guess you’re right about that,” he agreed. 

“Of course I am. Now watch my toes. Don’t need them getting stomped.”

To her credit, Anj was an exceptional dancer and instructor, and before he knew it, Chuckles knew just enough steps to feel comfortable asking Helly to dance. The Rodian giggled gleefully before accepting, and the two of them whirled each other around to the tune of a lively jig until they collapsed against a table laughing breathlessly. Chuckles noticed that Endi was still talking to the two men, her smile clearly strained. 

“Thanks for the dance, Hells,” he said quietly. “But I think I need to go rescue someone.” 

“I think you’re right,” she agreed, patting him on the shoulder before meandering towards where Anj and Lu were standing. 

Chuckles straightened his shirt and squared his shoulders before making his way over to where Endi stood. A look of relief flickered across her features as she realized he was coming towards her. 

“Evening, gentlemen. Having a good time?” he asked amicably. Kit muttered something unintelligible while Bronce didn’t even bother responding. Chuckles’s grin didn’t falter. “Wonderful. If you don’t mind, I’d like to steal Teacher Endi here for a dance.” He extended his hand. “Anj has been teaching me some steps, so I can guarantee I’m at least half as likely to step on your toes.” 

“At least half? Well, that sounds promising,” she giggled, taking his hand. “Lead the way.” 

Once they were out on the floor, whether by coincidence or by some scheming by Jerrno, Teef, and Grinz, the tempo slowed. Chuckles glanced over his shoulder at where the band was setup, but neither Latero nor the Ugnaut would make eye contact with him. 

What a bunch of meddling mynocks.

Endi appeared to note the very deliberate glances around as well, but she still stepped closer as other couples filed out to dance. Chuckles recognized a few sets of parents that had helped with Arni’s birthday around them, and he had to stifle a grin when he saw Anj gently pull Helly to her feet and lead her out to dance. Helly’s expression mingled somewhere between shock and sheer joy, and Anj looked downright giddy. 

“Did you slip the band some credits?” Endi whispered in a tone that was anything but accusatory. 

“Oh, I didn’t have to. It appears almost everyone is conspiring to get us together,” Chuckles murmured as he rested his hands on her waist. 

“Well unfortunately for them, they’re too late to contribute to that effort,” she giggled softly, draping her arms over Chuckles’s shoulders. He felt his face flush at the way she was looking at him, her golden eyes twinkling in the festival lights, a deep purple hue starting to spread across her cheeks. 

“Are you blushing, Teacher Endi?” he teased. 

“And what if I was?” she asked, swaying in his grip in time with the tempo. 

“I might take it as a form of flattery,” he whispered, stepping a few centimeters closer. 

Her eyes darted around nervously. “I thought you wanted to keep this quiet for a bit,” she said under her breath. 

“I do. And we’re just dancing,” he murmured. “I danced with Anj and Helly already. Two people can just dance.” 

“And what if I asked you to walk me home?” she asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge. 

He felt the heat creeping up the back of his neck, and his cock twitched with interest at what her request implied. He leaned closer to whisper directly into her ear, his hand creeping around her waist. 

“I’d think you might be propositioning me, Endoline.” 

Her voice was breathy as she whispered back. “And if I was?”

“Then I’d have no choice but to ensure you make it home safely.”

“Is that all?” 

“Well, I suppose I could stay for a while longer,” he hummed teasingly. “Take my time. Make sure you’re taken care of.”   

She pulled back, and he could see the flush had fully enveloped her cheeks, highlighting the dark blue freckles that peppered her skin. 

“What will Anj think?” she joked, her voice still breathy. 

Chuckles glanced around to make sure no one was looking or listening before he tugged his shirt aside. Endi’s eyes widened, and she reached up to quickly cover the bruise she’d left. Chuckles grinned. “Anj won’t think much unless you keep leaving marks like that on me.” 

“I-I didn’t know I did that.”

“I didn’t either, but nothing gets past Anj,” he snickered. “Don’t worry. She’s promised to be discreet. And said she’s happy for us.”

Endi smiled slightly. “I’m happy for us as well,” she whispered. 

“Me too,” Chuckles agreed. He resisted the urge to kiss her again in that moment, tempted further by the way her eyes flicked down to his lips before returning to his eyes. 

Patience.

He danced and drank and laughed more than he had in the months since the war ended. Nita and Arni twirled and danced with their friends as the evening’s festivities continued. Chuckles’s heart warmed as he watched the two children laugh and scream with delight. Several hours later, a weary Nita shuffled over to him with drooping eyelids. 

“‘M sleepy,” she mumbled before being overcome by a face-splitting yawn. “Can we go home?” 

Chuckles glanced over at Endi apologetically. She only allowed a slight flicker of disappointment to cascade across her face before she put her smile back into place, giving him a nod. 

“Helly and I can make sure the kids get home,” Anj offered, clearly noting the unspoken apology passing between Endi and Chuckles. “I’d hate to break up whatever’s happening over there anyway.” Chuckles glanced over to where she’d indicated, and saw Helly and Arni talking animatedly, both of their eyes sparkling. Lu was quietly watching, smoking a pipe he’d also apparently brought with him and nodding when he was occasionally consulted by either the Twi’lek or the Rodian for his input. 

“Are you sure?” Chuckles asked. 

Anj’s teeth glinted. “Not a problem.” She leaned closer to whisper to him. “But you owe me one.” With that, she scooped up Nita in her arms, and the little Pantoran was asleep before she’d made it ten steps, gathering Lu, Helly, and Arni and heading towards the Starlight. 

Chuckles and Endi didn’t wait too much longer to make their exit, not wanting to wait for the festival to end and get caught in the crowd. Leaving early reduced the chances they’d draw too much attention to the fact that they were leaving together. Chuckles did his best to keep his pace unhurried as they strolled back towards the schoolhouse, Lothal’s twin moons lighting their way. They kept that same respectable distance between the two of them, but this time, that space felt charged with the expectations of what they both knew would come when they reached the privacy of Endi’s apartment. 

“So, you’re the only teacher that lives at the schoolhouse then?” Chuckles noted, making an attempt at small talk to fill the silence. 

“I am. The other two teachers are both married and have their own residences. I was lucky that there was enough material and willing individuals to build that apartment onto the back. It used to just be a storage area, but Grinz was able to get enough supplies to make it a cozy dwelling.”

“That’s nice,” Chuckles agreed, ignoring the heat that was creeping up the back of his neck slightly. 

“It is,” she agreed. 

They walked for a few more minutes before she stepped a little closer. “You know, you called me Endoline while we were dancing. I believe that’s the first time you’ve called me by my full name,” she said softly. “Most everyone here calls me Endi.”

“Was it alright?” he asked, suddenly concerned he’d crossed a line. 

She giggled, placing a reassuring hand on his forearm. It felt like his skin was on fire where her fingers touched him. 

“I think I like it when you call me that,” she said. “There’s something more… intimate about it. Less informal. If that makes sense.” 

Chuckles smiled, placing his hand on top of hers. “Well, then I may use it more. If that’s alright. It’s a beautiful name.” 

Endi ducked her head, leaning against him slightly as the schoolhouse came into view. “I’d like that.” 

Chuckles felt his pulse quicken as they drew nearer to the building, his cock already half-hard in his pants as he thought of what they’d done earlier in that inside. And what they’d do in the hours to come. 

“How long will you stay?” she whispered to him, snapping him away from his fantasies. 

“As long as you want me to. Just should be home before the kids wake up.”

She grinned wickedly. “Well then, let’s not waste any time.” Glancing around to make sure no one was around, she slipped her hand into his and led him around the side of the building to the rear entrance into her apartment. Chuckles’s hands wandered to her waist as she keyed the unlock code into the door’s keypad, and he felt her shudder and giggle as he leaned in to bury his nose in her hair, inhaling deeply. 

“Karking hells, you’re gorgeous,” he hummed. 

Endi laughed breathlessly as she stepped inside, pulling him after her and locking the door behind them. 

He followed her through the dark apartment to her bedroom, quietly closing the door behind them as she turned to face him. They stood watching one another for a moment, the small room seemingly crackling with anticipation, but there was no urgency this time, no rush to sate the need they’d both been repressing. Endi had already confirmed that they felt the same, that she wanted him as much as he did her. Still, there was almost a hesitation on Chuck’s part, as if he might wake up at any moment back aboard the Starlight or make a misstep that would send them flying apart. 

It was all still so new, and they were still figuring things out about each other. And that made it even more exciting. 

Endi made the first move, closing the distance between them and kissing him tenderly. 

“I believe you promised to make sure I was taken care of,” she mumbled against his lips, allowing her arms to drift over his shoulders so that she could play with his hair.

Chuckles grinned. “Well, Endoline, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I always keep my promises,” he rasped, resting his hands on her hips and walking her backwards towards her bed until the backs of her knees brushed against it. He undid the clasps of her blouse, pushing the garment off of her shoulders as he nosed at the skin of her throat. Her hands fumbled to undo the buttons of his shirt again, her touch still sending lightning through his veins when her fingers found his skin once more. They undressed each other eagerly until they both stood bare to one another, kissing in the cool air of Endi’s bedroom as their hands explored one another. Chuckles felt her shiver under his fingertips as his hands traced her spine. 

“Are you cold?” he asked softly. 

“A little. But more excited. And nervous for some reason,” she whispered back with a wavering breath. 

“Nothin’ to be nervous about,” he rumbled, kissing her again. “We’ve already done this once.”

“That was different.”

“It was,” he conceded. “But I still care as much about you now as I did then, and I plan to properly show you that. Now lay back on the bed for me, love.” 

Endi sat down, the mattress, her eyes never leaving his. She started to scoot back towards the pillows, but Chuckles knelt down, gripping her legs just behind the knee and pulling her back towards the edge of the bed. Endi appeared confused for a moment until understanding dawned on her features, her eyes darkening considerably. 

“You don’t have-”

“I want to,” he cut her off. “Wanted to taste you damn near since I laid eyes on you. Now lay back and let me take care of you.” 

Endi leaned back on her elbows, allowing her knees to fall open as Chuckles scooped under her ass, pulling her closer to the edge of the mattress. Her cunt was already glistening in the room’s dim lighting, an invitation he was more than willing to accept. He pulled her legs over his shoulders and, keeping his eyes on hers, he lowered his mouth to her, hovering for just a moment to allow his warm breath to graze her folds and clit. Endi whined, and he smirked. 

“D-don’t tease,” she gasped. “Or I’ll regret letting you walk me home.” 

“Yes ma’am,” he rasped before licking a long, flat stripe up her slit. Endi’s head tipped back, and he watched the curve of her throat bob with a hard swallow. He traced her slit slowly with his tongue, working his way inside of her before gently suckling at her clit. The next pass, he pressed deeper inside of her, tasting the tang of her arousal and something else familiar and salty. He’d tasted himself before on Brienna’s lips and tongue after she’d let him finish in her mouth, something she relished in. Now, his cock strained in his pants as he realized he was tasting himself again, remnants of his spend that he’d left inside of Endi hours ago, staking his claim on her. 

She had me leaking out of her when Kit and Bronce were talking to her, thinking they had a chance. But I’d already claimed her, already had her whining my name and pleading with me to let her cum. And she probably felt it, felt me inside of her as she stood there listening to them. 

She was already mine. 

Chuckles wasn’t normally possessive or territorial when it came to lovers, but something about having Endi be unsuccessfully pursued by those that had shown him such open disdain when she’d already chosen him made his cock throb. He groaned into her cunt, and Endi’s hands found his mohawk, gripping tightly as she braced her heels on the edge of the bed and began grinding up into his face. 

Pride ripped through Chuckles as he thought of Kit and Bronce and every natborn like them that had ever made a comment about clones not knowing their way around a bedroom, some even questioning if they had the anatomy to please a lover. 

They can think what they want. They’ll never have a woman like this riding their tongue. 

His fingers dug into her hips as he drove his tongue into her, tasting the combination of his spend and her arousal, coating his chin and lips with her. Endi’s grinding grew more insistent, and the roots of his mohawk creaked in protest between her fingers, spurring him on. He buried his face in her, closing his eyes and losing himself in her. 

“Ch-Chuckles,” Endi gasped. “I’m close. I-I-I’m so close.” 

He opened his eyes and almost came untouched at the sight of Endi, one hand braced against the wall, pushing herself towards him, her head tipped back and lips pursed in pleasure as her chest heaved. Her blue skin was flushed with heat and desire, and sweat beading at the roots of her dark curls as the tendons in her throat strained, her mouth opening in a silent scream. He nosed at her clit as he fucked her with his tongue, and she whined high in her throat, pushing the swollen bundle of nerves against him again. 

“P-p-please,” she begged. “Please.”

He hummed into her again before latching onto her clit and sucking, and she came hard, soaking his chin and chest as her eyes rolled back into her head. Her orgasm ripped a guttural groan from her that wrung her out and left her trembling in his grip. Her hold on his hair loosened, her fingers sliding around to the back of his head and pulling him firmly towards her so that she could kiss him breathlessly. 

“More,” she gasped. “I n-need more. Please.” 

“Well since you asked so nicely, it would be rude of me to refuse,” Chuckles teased, despite the fact that his cock was painfully hard and weeping. Endi reached down to stroke him as he gently shifted her to lay on the pillows, pulling the blankets over the top of them. 

“I need you inside me,” Endi whined. 

“Oh, you’ll have me, Endoline,” Chuckles reassured her, stroking her hair as he slotted his hips between her legs, the head of his cock catching her clit and drawing another gasp from her. He reached down, his knuckles grazing her folds as he notched himself at her entrance, gently pressing the head of his cock inside of her. “Gonna take my time though.” He gently pushed his hips forward, and he slid into her easily, bottoming out in only a few thrusts. 

“Maker above, you’re so warm and tight,” he rasped against her neck, reaching up to interlace his fingers with hers on the pillow above her head. “But you’re so soft, how can you be that soft and perfect? I’d keep my cock buried in you forever if I could.” His mouth was running now, unable to stop the words from pouring out as he set a gradual pace punctuated with thrusts that seemed to go impossibly deep inside of her, brushing her back wall. 

“Y-you’re so big,” she whined. “I can feel you everywhere.” 

“You like my cock, love?” he prompted, gripping her hip to give himself more leverage as he pushed as deep as he could inside of her. “Like feeling me inside of you?” 

“It’s perfect,” she moaned, clenching around him. “It’s so good. So good.” 

“Tell me how good,” he demanded, grazing his teeth against her neck again. “Tell me how good I’m fucking you, Endoline.” 

“No one’s ever fucked me like this, Chuckles. Gods above, please don’t stop.”

“I won’t. I’m gonna make sure you remember this every step you take tomorrow. Every time you move, I want you to feel me.” He sucked another bruise into the tender flesh of her breast. “Every time you see yourself in the mirror, I want you to think of me.” He took her earlobe between his teeth, biting gently as she arched into his touch and whined again. “I want you to think of how my cock felt buried in your perfect pussy and how I’m going to do it again and again, as long as you’ll let me.” 

He pulled another orgasm from her in a matter of minutes, and then she was moving, pushing him onto his back so she could ride him. Chuckles let her lead, allowing her to straddle his hips, grinding herself insistently down into the patch of hair at the base of his cock. Her hands braced against his chest as she increased her pace, grinding harder and harder until she started to tighten around him again. He pulled her down into a heated kiss as her fingernails dug into his chest. 

“Give me another one, gorgeous. I want to see you cum on my cock again.” He snapped his hips into her, and she fell forward, her breasts dangling just in front of his face. Reaching up, he took a nipple between his lips and sucked. Endi’s fingers flew to the back of his head, cradling him against her as she met his thrusts, moaning loudly as her cunt tightened around him. 

“Gods, Chuckles. I’m going to cum.” 

“Yeah, you are. Cum for me, Endoline.” 

The sound of her name on his lips seemingly pulled her over the edge, and she came, screaming against his lips. Chuckles thought that would be the end for her, that she’d be too tired to continue, but after a few seconds of rest, Endi slipped off of him, falling into her hands and knees. 

“Take me like this, Chuckles. I want you to finish.”

“Endi, I-”

“Fuck me, Chuckles. Please fuck me.” She wiggled her ass in invitation. “I need you to fill me again.” 

Sweat trickled from Chuckles’s brow as he took in her cunt, clenching around nothing and presented to him wantonly. Endi’s golden eyes were pleading as she looked over her shoulder at him, her lower lip caught between her teeth. “Please,” she begged. “I need it. I want to feel you finish inside of me. I want to feel it drip back out again.” 

So she did feel it. She felt me inside of her as those men talked to her.

And she’s asking for more. 

Chuckles was already mounting her before his brain could think anything else, his hand bracing on the small of her back as he nudged her knees apart to accommodate his own. With his other hand, he guided his cock inside of her with ease, and Endi’s back arched as he filled her again, her head falling forward onto the mattress. 

“Take me,” she whispered. “I’m yours.”

“Yeah you are,” he rasped, snapping his hips forward. “All mine.” 

He gripped her hips, watching where he disappeared inside of her, the lips of her pussy wrapping around his shaft as he pulled back, and then disappearing as their bodies collided again with a firm snap of his hips. Her ass rippled against him with each thrust, and after a few minutes, he could feel her meeting his thrusts. Glancing up, he noted a small mirror in one corner, tucked behind the door and normally hidden. In it, he could see Endi’s expressions, the pinch between her brows and the flush in her cheeks as he fucked her. 

I’m making her feel like that. I’m giving her that pleasure.

His grip on her hips tightened, and she readjusted, crying out. 

“Oh, FUCK. Right there, Chuckles. Don’t stop, don’t stop, don’t stop…” Her chanting devolved into unintelligible babbling punctuated by the occasional swear word as his thrusts grew more sharp. He bore down on the place inside of her, feeling the head of his cock brush it with every snap of his hips. The way her cunt was tightening around him made his breath catch in his throat. 

“‘M close, Endi. I’m gonna fill you up.” 

“Please, please, please, please…” her begging grew more insistent as she choked his cock. He felt her reach between her legs, and he thought she might play with her clit until he felt her fingers graze his balls, sliding along his shaft as he pulled back out of her slightly.

“Oh f-fuck,” he groaned, and his orgasm overwhelmed him. “F-fuck. FUCK.”

He emptied himself inside of her with a whimper, his ears flooded with the sound of his pulse and Endi’s muffled screams. He barely managed to get a hand out to brace against the wall as each pulse of his cock yanked another gasp from him. His orgasm seemed to last forever, wringing him out until his ears felt cottony and his mouth felt dry. He managed to not collapse on top of her, instead falling backwards onto the pillows as his eyes rolled towards the ceiling. Endi didn’t move, seemingly also struggling to recover as her back rose and fell with deep, gasping breaths. Chuckles saw some of his spend leak back out from between her puffy, swollen lips, and that same pride warmed him again. 

She let me do that to her. She chose me.

Finding the rag on the floor that she’d cleaned herself with earlier, he gently wiped between her legs. She shuddered at first, trying to wave him off. 

“You don’t have-”

“Shhh,” he whispered. “I know I don’t. I want to.” 

She relented, and he carefully cleaned her before he gently repositioned her to lay back on the pillows next to him. They were both sweaty and sticky and warm, but she snuggled into the crook of his shoulder anyway, releasing a content sigh as she draped her leg over his. 

“That was fantastic,” she whispered, kissing his shoulder. “Glad I let you walk me home.” 

He pushed some of her curls out of her face before pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Me too. We should do this again sometime.” 

“As often as you can,” she agreed. “I think I’d like to keep you around if that’s alright with you.”

“I suppose I can get onboard with that,” he joked, and she slapped him lightly. Slipping his fingers under her chin, he raised her mouth to his. “In all seriousness, I care for you, Endoline. Very much.” 

“I didn’t know you could be serious,” she replied teasingly. “And I care for you as well, Chuckles. Just as much.” 

He smiled, and for the first time since the end of the war, he felt his entire body relax. The tension that normally resided in his neck and shoulders seemed to have melted away. He’d grown so accustomed to it, he only now noticed its absence. Chuckles knew it was early still, that a thousand things could go wrong to change the way he and Endi felt about one another, but right now, all he felt was a thrilling warmth, a kind of comfort he hadn’t felt since the last time he’d been in bed with Brienna, one he thought he might not find again and had hardly considered pursuing in the aftermath of the war. He’d never anticipated finding someone that looked at him like this again, that kissed him like this, and yet here Endi was, snuggled against his side and relaxed. 

His cheeks hurt from the smile that felt permanently affixed when he was with her. He glanced down at Endi, who was absently trailing her fingers across his chest, tracing his scars and smiling with hooded eyes. 

“How long can you stay?” she asked. 

“I’ll stay as long as I can,” he whispered. 

“I’d like that. But I understand you’ll have to go at some point.”

“I will, but it won’t be like that forever. When we’re both comfortable with telling people, then I’ll be all yours.” 

“I thought you already were,” she teased. Her eyes were sparkling as she met his. 

“You know, I think you might be right,” Chuckles agreed. One word echoed in his mind as he watched her snuggle closer against him, her eyes drifting closed. 

Settled. 

Finally settled.

Chuckles hardly slept that night, his mind swirling between worry that he’d forgotten something for the surprise party, or that Arni had figured out their plan. When he wasn’t worrying, images of dark curls, golden eyes, purple flushed cheeks, and the smell of cinnamon and vanilla haunted his dreams. 

Once he’d extricated himself from the desk, his goodbye to Endi had been cordial and brief enough. There had been a moment though where their eyes had lingered just a touch too long, and for a millisecond, he’d wondered if she wanted him to kiss her. 

Too fast. Too soon. 

He’d opted to squeeze her upper arm instead, which felt stupid in hindsight. In the moment, he’d left so quickly, he’d forgotten Arni’s gifts were still in her apartment. He’d sent her a message when he’d gotten back to the Starlight and realized, and she’d replied not to worry about it, that she’d have them ready for him tomorrow. 

You’re such an idiot. For so many reasons. 

The kids had only beaten him home by a little, and he’d worked up an excuse about needing to chat with Anj about the schedule next week to explain his absence. Arni had never questioned it, instead opting to regale him with their adventure from that day. Of course, they hadn’t found the mother tooka or her kits, but they’d still managed to find some very interesting insects and flowers, all of which Arni had documented in their journal in careful detail. 

After dinner, Arni went to shower, and Chuckles used that opportunity to fill Nita in on the plan for the following day. He had to shush her when she squealed with excitement about her designated position as Head of Decorations. 

“It’s gonna be so great and they’re gonna be so surprised,” she whispered loudly. 

“They absolutely are. Just make sure you don’t spill the beans before then, kiddo.” 

Nita pulled her fingers across her lips as though she was zipping them shut and then offered Chuckles her pinky, which he locked with his. 

Now, as the sun was just beginning to trickle in through the viewport, signaling the dawn of the next day, Chuckles could already hear the tiny Pantoran shifting around in the bunk. He’d figured she’d be up early from the excitement, and had to chew the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing when he heard her wake up Arni. The Twi’lek was muttering under their breath when they emerged from the shared bunk, readjusting their headgear as they trudged towards the kitchenette. Chuckles reached over for his commlink, firing off a quick message to Helly and receiving an almost instant response. He grinned. 

She may be just as excited as Nita. 

The little Pantoran was already bouncing at his elbow as he rolled over in his bunk. Her golden eyes were sparkling with excitement, and her grin was threatening to split her face in half. 

“They don’t suspect anything!” she whispered loudly. 

“Let’s keep it that way then. Helly’s on her way over, so you gotta keep it under wraps for just a little bit longer, ok?” 

Nita saluted him. “Yes, sir.” 

“Good, now go eat breakfast. It’s gonna be a busy day as soon as Arni and Helly leave.” 

Nita bounded off immediately, her trooper doll dangling at her side. Chuckles just managed to get a quick shower in and get dressed before there was an eager rap at the side hatch of the ship. He opened it hurriedly to find Helly standing there with a helmet and respirator in her arms, accompanied by Anj, who was also carrying a few tidbits of gear. Chuck shot the Nautolan an inquisitive look, and she shrugged. 

“GOOD MORNING CHUCKLES! I’VE COME BY TO DELIVER YOUR NEW GEAR FOR THE MINE!” Helly announced loudly.

“Maker alive Helly, tone it down or the kids are going to think they’re under attack,” Anj muttered with a smirk. 

The Rodian ducked her head shyly. “Sorry,” she whispered. “Just wanna sell it.” 

Chuckles stepped back, inviting them both inside the ship. Helly was practically vibrating as she handed him the gear. Anj set her box down, her dark eyes flitting about the ship, taking in the place Chuckles and the kids lived. 

“Nice place. Corellian?”

“Yeah. Got it for cheap,” Chuckles replied with a shrug. 

A dull thud in the corner made the three of them turn. Arni was trying to shyly shuffle past, and when all three sets of eyes turned on them, their cheeks flushed a dark blue. 

“S-sorry. I-I was just gonna get my sketchbook.”

“Arni, this is Helly and Anj. I work with them down at the mine.”

“Yeah! And we’re just stopping by to drop off some of his new gear!” Helly declared, still a little loudly. 

“What’s this about a sketchbook?” Anj asked gently, clearly trying to deflect some of Helly’s enthusiasm. 

Arni ducked their head bashfully. “I like to draw the plants and animals of the places we visit. It’s kind of like a science journal.” 

Anj crouched down. “That sounds very interesting. May I see it?” Her voice was softer than Chuckles had ever thought her capable of. 

The Twi’lek retrieved their sketchbook and satchel of colored pencils from their bunk, shyly handing it out to the tattooed Nautolan. Anj gave them a toothy smile before she started thumbing through the pages. 

“These are very good, Arni. You’ve got quite the eye for detail.”

It was so subtle that Chuckles almost missed it, but Arni’s spine straightened a little, their mouth twitching upwards at the corners. 

Anj paused on one page, pointing at the sketch of an orange flower with pink pistil and stamens. “This one’s gorgeous. Can’t say I’ve seen it around here before.” 

Chuckles immediately recognized the bloom, and his heart twisted in his chest as Arni’s expression fell slightly. “That was a flower on Sorgan. We used to live there.” 

“I see,” Anj said quietly, clearly understanding there was still lingering grief. “Have you sketched anything since you got here?” 

Arni nodded, stepping closer to flip forward a few pages. Anj grinned as she took in the sketches of the tooka they’d seen the first night they landed. When she turned the page again, Chuckles felt heat rush to his cheek as familiar golden eyes stared back at him from the sketchbook. 

“Ah, I recognize this one,” Anj said. “That’s an excellent likeness of Teacher Endi.”

“I’m just starting to try out portraits,” Arni admitted, their posture straightening further as a hint of pride tinged their voice. “I’m not great at proportions yet though.”

“Just takes practice, I’m sure,” Anj replied. She flipped another page to find the drawing of a small beetle. “Hey, Helly, don’t you have a specimen of this one in your collection?” she asked, giving Chuckles a subtle wink. 

Helly leaned over her shoulder. “You know, I think I might.” 

Just as Chuckles hoped, Arni took the bait. “You collect bugs?” 

“And flora as well. I do some sketching myself if you’d like to see.” 

“She’s being modest,” Anj teased. “Helly here has had a few of her drawings published in some very prestigious science journals.” 

Arni’s eyes were bugging out of their face in admiration. “Whoa.”

It was Helly’s turn to flush with pride. “I’d love to show you, if you’ve got some time. I’d also like to pick your brain on how you did the fur on that tooka drawing. I can never get it to look right.” 

“Right now?”

Helly nodded. “Today’s our day off, and I don’t have any plans. If it’s ok with your dad, of course.” 

“CAN I CHUCKLES?”

Even if they hadn’t been trying to pull off a surprise birthday party, there was no way Chuckles was going to tell Arni ‘no’, not with the way their eyes were lit up. It was the most excited he’d seen them in recent memory, maybe since Sorgan. 

“Absolutely, kid.” 

Arni could hardly contain their glee as they raced to the bunk to retrieve their boots and satchel. Chuckles leaned over to whisper to Helly. “Remember, no earlier than midday. That’ll give us enough time to get everything set up.” 

She winked at him with one of her large eyes. “You got it, boss.” 

“Ready?” Arni was already at Helly’s side. 

“Let’s go!” she giggled. 

The two of them practically raced out of the ship, chattering at one another about what types of bugs Helly liked to collect and what type of pencils Arni preferred for different techniques. When their excited voices finally faded in the distance, Anj straightened and grinned at Chuckles.

“That was easy enough.”

“I thought you were gonna meet us at the school house.” 

The Nautolan shrugged. “Thought it would be best to come along and help reign Helly in. Subtlety has never been her strong suit.” 

“Are they gone?” a small voice asked from behind them. Chuckles whirled around to find Nita peeking out from the kitchenette. 

“Yeah, honey, they’re gone,” Chuckles confirmed, but Nita was hardly paying attention to him. Her large golden eyes were firmly locked on Anj, taking her in. Anj didn’t seem to mind, returning to her crouched position. “And who might you be?” 

The little Pantoran edged forward. “Nita,” she said softly. “I like your tattoos.” 

Chuckles was flabbergasted. He’d never seen Nita be timid around anyone before. 

Anj didn’t seem to mind, chuckling. “They make me look tough so guys like your dad know I’m in charge.” She tossed another wink at Chuck. 

Nita approached her, and Anj leaned her arm closer to show off some of her more intricate ink. “Got that one done when I moved to this settlement,” she said, pointing at a series of squiggles that Chuck suddenly realized were meant to portray the plains of grass and rock formations that surrounded the settlement. It was a bit abstract for his taste, but still undeniably beautiful. Nita reached out to touch it, her tiny fingers tracing the lines dark lines that swirled over Anj’s grey skin.

“It’s really pretty.”

“I think so too.”

“Chuckles has a big tattoo on his back.”

“Does he now?” Anj raised an eyebrow at Chuck. “He never told me.”

“It’s one of the circuit boards in the ship he flew during the war. It’s very confusing, but still cool.” 

Anj grinned at her again. “Sometimes, those are the best ones.” 

Nita giggled for a moment before her eyes fell on one of Anj’s shortened tendrils. “What happened?” she asked quietly, pointing at the damage. 

Anj’s smile faltered slightly, but it didn’t slip from her face entirely. “Oh this? This was a lesson.”

“Did it hurt?”

“It did. Quite a bit, actually. But I learned from it, and will never let it happen again. It’s a good reminder to not repeat the same mistake twice.” 

Nita nodded, apparently satisfied with that answer. “I’m sorry you got hurt.” 

Anj’s grin warmed again. “Ah, don’t be, little one. It makes me look a little tougher anyway. Would you want to mess with a Nautolan that had some tendrils missing?” 

Nita returned her smile. “Definitely not. But you’re nice.” 

“Don’t tell anyone,” Anj whispered behind her hand conspiratorially. 

“I won’t,” Nita whispered loudly back. 

Anj pushed herself to her feet. “Right. Should we get to it then? I understand you’re in charge of the decor, and we must make sure you have enough time to create a masterpiece.” 

Nita’s face grew more serious, and she nodded firmly. “Let’s go then.” 

Anj bowed low, extending her arms towards the door as her tendrils dangled past her knees. “Lead the way, oh fearless Head of Decorations.” 

Nita squared her shoulders and marched out the hatch. Chuckles had to dig his teeth into his cheek to keep from bursting out laughing at her. 

“She’s a cutie,” Anj teased, nudging him with her shoulder. “It’s a wonder she doesn’t get away with everything.”

“Who says she doesn’t?” he snickered under his breath. 

— 

The walk to the schoolhouse was brief, but Chuckles was glad for the time with Anj. He hadn’t had much time to get to know her during working hours, but he’d felt an instant sense of camaraderie with her. A small part of him wondered if it was because she reminded him of Ry a little bit. Anj hung back and kept pace with him as Nita galloped ahead of the two of them, kicking up swirls of dust in her wake as she chased various insects or inspected weeds growing along the path. 

“You know, at first, I didn’t see the family resemblance,” the Nautolan joked. “But I think maybe I do now. She’s got your sense of humor.”

“I’d like to think hers is better.”

“Oh, undoubtedly,” she agreed. 

“So, you have any family out here?” Chuckles asked. “No offense, but I was surprised to find a Nautolan on a world that’s got so little water.”

Anj toed a rock with her boot. “No one blood related. Was orphaned as a kid and have been on my own since then. Ventured out on my fifteenth year and never really looked back.” She pulled her tendrils together over her shoulder. “But, I made family where I could. I think this is the most settled I’ve felt since I left Glee Anselm. Took me twenty years to find a place that felt like home, but here we are.” She widened her steps to lean over and nudge his shoulder with hers again. “I hope you can find the same here. I know it’s not exactly as glamorous as Coruscant or as green as Sorgan, but the people here are good. Mostly.” 

Chuckles was pretty sure the exceptions included the two human men on their crew, although he didn’t voice it. They’d kept their distance from him during the first week, and any interactions that were absolutely necessary were terse and to the point. He wasn’t about to make waves, but he did wonder what the root of the issue was. He imagined it was the fact that he was a clone, but wasn’t going to start pointing fingers without evidence. It could be they just didn’t like him, and that wasn’t anything new, but that opinion seemed to have been formed before he’d even opened his mouth or been given the opportunity to do anything. 

“I hope we can too,” Chuckles agreed. “The kids need to be settled.” 

“And you?”

“I’m a bit more adjustable to what life throws at me.” 

“Seems like life probably threw a lot at you,” Anj noted, her eyes focused on his scar. “Seems you’ve learned some lessons that hurt like hell too.” 

He tapped the scar. “Always wear your helmet while flying a Headhunter, and always check the eject handle before leaving the hangar.” He couldn’t stop his eyes from flicking to her shortened tendrils. “Your lesson was to tie those back when working, right? That’s why you do that before we go down in the mine.” 

“Actually, my lesson was don’t sleep with someone that responds to ‘no’s’ with knives,” Anj joked with a forced levity. Chuckles’s stomach wrenched at the thought, but Anj smiled at him. “But yeah, after doing that, I wasn’t about to get another one lopped off by mining equipment or caught somewhere and ripped off. It is one of the most painful thing a Nautolan can experience. Some don’t survive losing one.” 

Chuckles counted three shortened tendrils, and his throat felt suddenly tighter.

“Anj-”

“You’re not going to be able to think of the words to say, so don’t say anything,” she cut him off with a wave of her hand. “I don’t want pity. I learned. It was a hard lesson, but I know the warning signs and I know what I won’t accept from someone I love. I’ve found peace and someone…”

Her voice trailed off, but Chuckles instantly understood. 

“You walked over with Helly because you were already with her,” he said quietly. 

Anj’s eyes were fixed on the ground and her cheeks seemed to be flushed a darker shade of grey. Chuck almost giggled at how flustered the rugged Nautolan looked. “Keep it to yourself, yeah? It’s… it’s new. And I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea,” she whispered. 

“You got it.”

They walked in silence for a few more minutes, the only sounds the fluttering of the grasses in the breeze, their footsteps crunching against the rocks and dust, and Nita’s occasional excited exclamation. A gentle breeze fluttered through Chuck’s hair, and he tipped his face back, letting the sun warm his cheeks. 

Settled.

The word sounded nice to him. He’d almost felt that way on Sorgan, and maybe with time, he could have. He’d almost stopped looking over his shoulder when the Empire had arrived. But here, now, knowing that the clone army had been disbanded and he was allowed to just exist, it seemed like they had more of a chance. The community had embraced them for the most part, and it felt like as long as they kept Nita and Arni’s Force sensitivity secret, that maybe, just maybe, they could make this place their home, that they could feel settled. 

Glancing over at Anj, he could see a comfort in her that he craved for himself and the younglings. Her shoulders were relaxed, her eyes weren’t constantly checking for threats around them; she just was. She’d been through as much as he had, maybe even more, and yet here she stood, part of a community on a planet she arguably had no business being on. 

We could make this work.

“I know I’m a looker and all, but you’re staring, Chuck.”

Heat rushed to his face as he fought to recover. “Sorry. I just… I didn’t expect you to be so good around kids.” 

Anj shrugged one shoulder. “Had a younger sister back on Glee Anselm. About a decade separated us. She was an unexpected surprise for my family, but such a light.” Her eyes glistened slightly as she stared after Nita. Chuckles hadn’t missed her use of past tense, but opted not to press it. “She and Lola would have been great friends,” Anj said softly. “She was just as excited about life as that one.” 

“She’s something else,” Chuckles agreed. 

“Her parents?”

“Never knew ‘em. Same for Arni. They were alone, and so was I.” He sighed. “There’s a thing about clones and kids. When you’re training to be a soldier from the moment you come out of your tube, it’s hard. The trainers were rarely sympathetic, and the Kaminoans mostly viewed us as science experiments, so all we had were each other. The older we got, the more protective we grew of the younger cadets. I was one of the early gens, so I didn’t have many older brothers to look up to, but the ones that I did were the closest thing I had to family. When I saw those two, I saw my younger brothers, in need of a family and comfort when life had been hard. And if I’m honest, I needed them just as much. Just didn’t realize it at the time.” His chest was unexpectedly tight, and his voice cracked slightly. 

Anj was watching him. 

“Who’s staring now?” he joked. 

“Fair. I just guess I never thought about what growing up was like for you. Makes me feel like more of an ass for my jokes the first day.” 

“I always figured that was the point, to make us seem less than human so that we’d feel more expendable,” Chuckles replied. “It’s easy not to get invested in our lives when you know so little about us other than we were created to fight, that we were grown in tubes instead of wombs, that we age twice as fast as you. I’ve heard everything from theories that we don’t feel pain to theories that we’re experimental droids with flesh covering our gears. Hell, I’ve even had someone try to explain what sex was to me in a bar once because they figured I didn’t know anything other than how to be a soldier. Told him his mother seemed to think I knew what I was doing the night before. He didn’t take that well.” 

The joke landed, bringing the levity that he’d hoped for. Anj laughed quietly. 

“You’ve got a pretty pleasant disposition in spite of it all.”

“Didn’t always. But it was either adjust or put a fist through every natborn face that looked at me funny. Figured it would be better to just focus on the laughter, especially if I could get a giggle out of my brothers.” 

Anj opened her mouth to reply, but just then, Nita skidded to a halt in front of them, almost tripping Anj with her abrupt appearance. She held a lily out, its petals starting off white and changing to a green at the tips that resembled Anj’s tendrils. The stalk was yellowed and hard, and Chuckles wondered how anything that beautiful had managed to flourish in the dry plains of Lothal. 

“It’s kind of like you,” Nita noted. 

Very like her, Chuckles thought.

Anj crouched down next to her. “Oh, that’s far too pretty and delicate to be like me,” she joked softly. 

“You’re pretty too though. Just in a different way,” Nita countered. Standing on her tiptoes, she tucked the bloom’s stem into Anj’s tendrils such that the flower rested against her face. Something shifted in the Nautolan’s expression, and Chuck couldn’t be certain, but it seemed her dark eyes glistened more for a moment. 

“That’s a nice thing to say,” she said quietly. In a second, the emotion was gone, and one of Anj’s trademarks grins slid into place. “What say you and I race your dad the last little bit?” she asked. 

Nita returned her grin. “Let’s do it!”

“Right then.” Anj scooped the tiny Pantoran up, placing her on her shoulders. Chuckles was relieved that Nita didn’t need to be told to not hold onto Anj’s tendrils, instead resting her palms against her skull. “Last one there’s a tooka’s uncle!” Anj declared before taking off at a surprising pace. 

Chuck smiled to himself, jogging after them. 

Being a dad. Being settled. That all sounds nice.

—

The next few hours went by in the blink of an eye. Nita took her role of Head of Decorations very seriously, directing the small group of parents and children that had shown up without hesitation. She’d apparently decided Anj would be her second in command, and the Nautolan embraced the role without question, flawlessly carrying out Nita’s directives and ensuring her instructions were followed to a tee. They hung the paper chains and flowers in the classroom along with the lights and glass decorations. Endi had flung the back doors of the schoolhouse open, revealing the small yard that the children played in during their breaks, and the glass pieces made the sunlight dance across the walls of the small room in rainbows and refracted patterns. A table had been set up outside with the cupcakes Endi had baked and other snacks Chuckles assumed had been brought by some of the other families. His heart clenched at the thought. 

Settled.

There was a small rock garden at one end of the schoolyard, and Nita and her cohorts were planting paper flowers in the dust to give the illusion of an actual garden. Anj followed behind the tiny Pantoran with her massive arms full of the crafted blooms, the real one still tucked behind her ear. She dropped the flowers where Nita directed, and the other children scampered behind, pushing wire stems into the dirt. It didn’t take long for the garden to fully take shape, filled with such a variety of colors, Chuckles wasn’t sure Arni’s pencils could have captured them all. As Chuckles leaned against the doorway, watching the Nita and Anj performing their final inspections, he felt a soft hand rest on his shoulder. 

“She could lead an army,” Endi giggled quietly, her breath warm against Chuckles’s ear. 

“Oh, easily,” he agreed, leaning closer to whisper to her. The scent of her perfume inundated his senses, and his head swam slightly from how close she was standing to him. “She’d have given my captain a run for his credits. That is, if he didn’t willingly enlist under her.” He smiled to himself at the thought of Crater. 

He’d have loved her. 

Endi seemed to sense his wistfulness, gently slipping her hand around his bicep. “Come with me,” she said quietly. 

Chuckles allowed her to lead him back through the classroom and through the narrow doorway he knew led to her apartment. He ignored the heat rising in his cheeks as he crossed the threshold into her personal space. 

The dwelling was humble, but everywhere he looked, he saw traces of Endi. She’d done a wonderful job of making it hers, from the blue paint on the doors to the cream colored curtains that hung over the windows, fluttering in the morning breeze. He tried to take his boots off, afraid of tracking dust off, but she waved him off. 

“I’ve been going back and forth all day, so I’ll have to sweep anyway. Don’t worry about it.” 

The entrance of her apartment consisted of a narrow hall with a closet on one side and a wall on the other that had been covered with student art projects. Chuckles examined some of them as he passed before stepping into the kitchen. It was small, containing a refrigeration unit, a warmer, an oven, and a little bit of counter space. A small herb garden hung under the window, and a table and two chairs were pressed against one wall. The smell of chocolate still lingered in the air, along with the vanilla and spice scent Chuckles had come to associate with Endi. Down the hall, he noted a back door he assumed led out to behind the schoolyard, and another door that was closed. 

Her bedroom.

“I hope I wrapped these alright.” Endi’s voice drew Chuckles from his observations. He faced her, noting that she was gesturing at a small stack of presents on the kitchen table. It wasn’t hard to recognize the shape of the pencil and charcoal boxes he’d gotten the day before. Endi had wrapped them in plain brown paper, but the ribbons on it were a rainbow of colors, tied in delicate, intricate knots that made them really shine. Chuck’s throat tightened as he ran his finger along the curl of one of the bows. 

“They’re perfect. Much better than anything I could have done,” he said quietly, giving her a smile. 

She gave him a pleased grin, clapping her hands together. “I’m so glad.”

“What are the other boxes?”

“Anj and Helly both asked me to wrap theirs too. Said I could do a much better job. Helly got Arni some specimen collecting jars, and Anj got them another sketchbook, figuring they’d tear through more drawings with their new supplies.” Her fingers rested on another package. “I gave them a stone I found when I first moved here.” She giggled softly. “I hope they don’t mind me giving them a rock, but Arni’s got such a scientific mind, I assume they’ll know exactly what it is and if it’s a common specimen. I hope I didn’t give them the equivalent of dirt.” Her eyes met his. “It was sitting on the steps of the schoolhouse when I found it, glinting in the sun, but it felt like a sign I’d found my place. I hope you one day feel like this place is yours as well.” 

Chuckles’s mouth had gone completely dry, and his brain had forgotten every word he’d ever learned. Endi’s cheeks flushed that beautiful shade of purple that had been haunting his dreams. He grasped for the right thing to say and came up empty, floundering frantically in his mind. Endi’s mouth quirked up slightly at the corners, the flush in her cheeks deepening. 

“Endi, I-”

“THEY’RE COMING!!!” Nita burst through the door of the apartment, sweating and panting, but grinning triumphantly. Anj was close behind her. She grinned when she saw the two of them standing together. 

“Helly just sent me a comm. They’re heading over now. Probably got about five minutes.”

“Right, better get these out on the table then,” Endi said, handing Chuckles a few packages before gathering the rest in her arms and stepping out past Anj with Nita close on her heels. He couldn’t be certain, but he was fairly sure her voice was a little more strained and breathy than it had been a moment before. When he went to follow after her, Anj was still grinning, nudging him into the wall with her elbow as he passed. 

“What was that for?”

“Don’t know what you mean,” she teased, giving him a wink. 

Chuckles opened his mouth to protest further, but decided it was only fair that Anj know this about him since she’d entrusted him with her secret about Helly. Even if he wasn’t ready to take the next step with Endi, whatever that was.

Anj’s estimate was damn near spot on. They’d all just managed to get hidden when Helly’s excited voice began carrying into the room through the open door. Chuckles found himself squatting behind a row of desks with Endi and Anj. As Endi crouched down, she lost her balance and fell against him slightly. Instinctively, he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her up. 

“Thank you,” she whispered. He was certain she was leaning into his touch slightly. 

“Of course,” he replied, glad they’d shut off the lights. His face felt as though it was on fire.

Anj snickered next to him. 

“I NEED TO STOP IN AND SEE TEACHER ENDI ABOUT SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY. SHOULD ONLY TAKE A MINUTE,” Helly practically shouted. Chuckles heard Anj sigh in exasperation next to him, and he bumped her with his hip. She flicked him back in the forearm. 

Helly’s boots thudded against the steps, absolutely louder than normal, and a second later, she ushered Arni through the door. They looked around, their brows pinched in confusion. 

“Why are the lights-”

“SURPRISE!” 

Arni jolted with surprise as Endi threw the lights on and everyone erupted from their hiding places. Nita practically launched herself at the Twi’lek, and Arni just managed to stay on their feet as they caught her. Their eyes found Chuckles, and he felt as though his heart might burst out of his chest as he stepped forward to give them a hug. 

“How did you know?” Arni’s voice was muffled from where their face was buried in his chest. He rested a hand on top of their head. 

“A little bird named Nita told me,” he said quietly. “Why didn’t you?”

“You were busy,” they mumbled, still holding onto his waist. “Didn’t want to bother you.” 

Chuckles crouched down, resting his hands on their shoulders. “Arni, you are never a bother. Ever.” He noticed their cheeks were wet, and he cupped their face, brushing at the tears there. “You ok, kid? Is this alright?” 

They nodded hurriedly, assuaging his worries. “I’ve just never… I never really had a family to celebrate with. Had a few friends at… before. But it was always small.” Their eyes roved over the decorations and the presents and the table of cupcakes outside. “This is so much.”

“All for you, kid,” Chuck said, smiling. He wrapped his hand around the back of their head, pulling their foreheads together to touch. “You deserve all of this and more. Now, go have fun with your friends.” 

They giggled loudly, the deep laughter that came from their belly and broke into a guffaw. Chuckles had only heard them laugh like that a handful of times since they’d wound up together, and it warmed him from the inside out as Arni grabbed Nita’s hand and raced outside with the rest of the children. 

They get to be a kid now. Just as they should be.

“That was PERFECT!” Helly exclaimed, bounding up to him. “I was nervous they were starting to suspect something after the first hour, but then they started asking SO many questions, and it was just wonderful, and…” The Rodian’s chattering faded into the background as Chuckles’s eyes found Endi’s across the room. She was standing near the back wall, watching the scene quietly with a gentle smile gracing her features. 

Thank you, he mouthed at her. 

She dipped her head in acknowledgement.

Chuckles made his way around the room, thanking each of the parents that had volunteered their time or brought something to contribute. He couldn’t help sneaking peeks out at Arni and the kids, watching them run around the school yard together, most of them with chocolate frosting smeared across their faces in at least one place. 

Settled. Maybe. Just maybe. 

—

And so it went. 

The weeks stretched into a month. The weather began to shift, bringing with it cooler nights and shorter days. Chuckles had always liked milder seasons, preferring them to extreme heat or biting cold, and Lothal’s autumn promised to be just mild enough for his liking, the wind driving him to wear a jacket, but not stinging his cheeks as he walked to work in the mornings. 

With Grinz’s help, Chuckles was able to order clothes for Arni, Nita, and himself that were better suited for the cooler temperatures. They’d needed some alterations, and for that, he’d turned to Endi. Neither of them ever seemed to run out of things for the other to fix, Chuckles trading repairs for Endi’s craftsmanship or baking. While it was obvious to anyone with eyes or the biological equivalent what was happening between the two of them, they still hadn’t moved beyond lingering touches and shared glances that lasted just a half beat too long. 

“Hold still, or I’ll make a pin cushion out of you,” Endi tutted as she made adjustments to the hem of Chuck’s shirt, pulling a pin from between her teeth to hold the fabric in place. 

“Sorry,” he mumbled for what felt like the hundredth time. Standing still for long durations had never been a thing he was good at, and Endi’s fingers somehow continuing to find ways to brush against the skin of his back and stomach did little to make it easier. They’d opted to do the adjustments in the classroom since it had more room and a bit more lighting, and while it had only been about twenty minutes, it felt like Endi had scolded Chuckles plenty for squirming. It was never unkind though, only teasing. Now, an easy silence fell between them as Endi made the final adjustments before straightening and admiring her handiwork. 

“I think that’ll do. Let me have it back, and I should be able to get it finished by the end of the week.” She turned her back to him, replacing items into her sewing kit. “That color looks really nice on you, by the way.” 

Chuckles couldn’t stop himself from ducking his head at the compliment. His fingers fumbled with the buttons. Even though she’d turned around, he still wasn’t used to the thought of her standing there while he removed his shirt. He hurriedly pulled his other one back on before reaching over Endi’s shoulder to hand her the teal garment. She took it, meeting his gaze and smiling in the way that made his stomach flutter. 

“When’s a good time for me to come by and take a crack at your heating unit?” he asked. Endi’s heater had broken down at the beginning of the previous spring, and she’d been putting off having it fixed, but they’d agreed that repairing that would be adequate payment for the alterations to the Ayyshus’ new clothes. 

“Are you going to the festival tomorrow night?” she asked. 

Chuckles vaguely remembered Arni and Nita mentioning something about a festival the week prior. “Yeah, I think the kids were planning on going. I wasn’t sure I would, but I can swing by before you head out and see what I need on the unit. If that’s alright.”

She set the shirt down, crossing her arms and leaning back against her desk. “And why wouldn’t you come? The Harvest Festival is so much fun!” 

“Harvest Festival?” he inquired, raising an eyebrow. “This place has never struck me as a farm town. No crops to speak of.” 

Endi shrugged. “Lothal used to have a lot of agriculture, but the planetwide droughts kind of forced everyone to adjust. That doesn’t stop folks from hoping that the rains and greenery might return, and that one day, farming will be feasible again. Even still, it’s a good excuse to dance and get drunk,” she added with a wink. 

Chuckles tipped his head back and laughed at that. “Fair enough. Alright, what time do festivities start?” 

“Fireworks start just after sundown to kick things off, so maybe just a bit before then if you can swing it. Then we can walk over together. If you’d like.”

The invitation was very obviously there. Her eyes darted from his lips to his eyes, and Maker, it would be so easy to just let both of his hands rest on either side of her hips, to lean in and press his lips against hers. But the doubt lingered, the worries that this was a terrible idea, the concern that he was misreading things entirely. So Chuckles didn’t move closer, not yet. 

“I’d like that,” he agreed. 

Endi nodded, something flashing in her eyes that he couldn’t interpret before it disappeared. She sighed. “Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Yup. Thanks again.”

“Anytime Chuckles.” 

He left, his feet carrying him home as he overanalyzed that moment, tugging on his mohawk nervously as his mind raced. 

Why not? Why wouldn’t you? 

So what if you’re wrong? She wouldn’t make you feel terrible about it. Just apologize and move on.

But what will the kids think?

He almost tripped on the Starlight’s ramp as he finally reached their home. Arni and Nita were already getting out leftovers from the night before, setting the table for and reheating the rice dish. Chuckles smiled. 

This had become a routine of sorts. There had been a few longer nights at the mine recently to meet Imperial quotas, and when he came home late, Arni and Nita had taken it upon themselves to have dinner ready. He’d never even had to ask; they just adjusted, doing what needed to be done. 

One step at a time. Almost settled. 

That wasn’t to say that everything had been smooth sailing. Chuckles had noticed the two younglings starting to bicker more, and after discussing it with Anj and Endi to get their opinions, they decided it might be time to move them out of the shared bunk since it seemed to be the root of the issue. Arni’s limbs were growing at a rate that Chuckles felt would rival his brothers in their growth tanks, and that seemed to lead to frequent disagreements about whose elbows and knees were allowed to go where. It wasn’t unusual for the two younglings to tumble out of the bunk in the mornings, already grumbling at one another in voices that would crescendo to a shouting match if Chuckles didn’t intervene. It had started to wear on him enough to where he’d finally snapped at them, and then immediately apologized. Still, it was a point of contention. 

It was Anj that had recommended converting the main cargo hold to a shared bedroom for the two of them, and Chuckles had been slowly working on sprucing it up the last few weeks. It was an easy secret to keep since Nita and Arni had collectively decided the hold was too creepy to play in their first months on Sorgan, and had since avoided it, keeping the door on the other side of the kitchenette that led to it firmly closed. But Chuckles was optimistic that the lights and strings of reflective stars he’d been hanging up after the two kids had gone to bed would chase any lingering fears away. At least he hoped so. Grinz had also found a pair of secondhand bunks through his network and was having them shipped in the following week. Chuckles still wasn’t sure how he’d get the kids out of the way to install those, but he was confident he could get Helly and Anj to help. Helly had managed to find some unique decorations to hang on the walls, some even coming from her personal collection, and in Chuck’s mind, the hold had started to have a more welcoming feel. The decorations on the walls made it feel less cold and sterile, and the strings of lights cast a warm light around the place, chasing any lingering shadows out of sight. 

Bedtime was a bit of a struggle that evening, with Nita accusing Arni of laying on top of her trooper doll and Arni grumbling that she left it everywhere, so it was bound to get laid on at some point. Chuckles managed to get them to at least come to a truce before they dozed off, collapsing into his own bunk and drifting off to sleep thinking of golden eyes, dark curls, and fingertips grazing his spine. 

Despite the disagreement the night before, the following morning, every hint of the previous night’s animosity had vanished, completely eclipsed by their excitement for the festival. Chuck wasn’t sure how Arni and Nita would manage to wait all day, and finally chased them outside to burn off some of their excess energy. 

After the kids left, he went through his morning routine on his days off, making himself a cup of caf and a quick breakfast as he scanned the newsfeeds. He’d periodically checked things on Sorgan, but at that point, had been almost afraid of what he’d read. Now, he found himself scanning for the names of his brothers or any mention of Force users, but he always seemed to come up empty. It didn’t stop him from hoping. Hope wasn’t something he’d had a lot of during the war, but here on Lothal, he’d felt it wedging itself in the crevices in his heart, taking root and blossoming. He hoped that they’d stay here. He hoped the kids would continue to find their place and be happy. He hoped he’d one day feel safe enough to relax. 

He almost could forget about the Empire and the Jedi at times, forget about the war and the fact that the three of them were all technically fugitives. That frightened him. Crater had always warned the 28th Wing that becoming complacent was when they were the least safe, so Chuckles did his best to remain vigilant. Still, as he sat there listening to Nita and Arni giggle and shout, for a moment, it was easy to pretend that everything was normal as he set the datapad aside and finished his caf. 

He found himself more focused on what to wear tonight, silly as it was. Whatever shirt he’d wear would likely get covered in oil and grease depending on how extensive the repair to Endi’s heating unit was, but her words echoed in his mind as he poked through his meager wardrobe. 

“That color looks really nice on you, by the way.” 

He selected one of the older shirts he had, one he’d traded for their first month on Sorgan. It was more sunbleached and worn, but it was comfortable and close to the color of the shirt Endi was altering for him. He hadn’t worn it in quite a while, and as he pulled it over his head, he caught a glimpse of himself in the ‘fresher mirror. 

His body had absolutely changed in the last month. The muscles that he’d allowed to grow softer on Sorgan were now more defined than they’d been in a long while, maybe since his training days. His shoulders and back in particular had hardened from the work in the mine, and he had a few new scars he’d garnered from bumping up against the rocky walls or having to crawl through a few narrow spaces. The soreness he’d experienced in the first week had long faded, leaving him feeling stronger than he’d been in a while and seemingly dissipating some of the pains that had lingered after his crash. The shirt felt looser as he pulled it on, rolling the sleeves to his forearms out of habit. The fabric hung in places where it had previously fit a little tighter, and now it fit his back and shoulders better. 

Chuckles examined his reflection further, leaning forward to run his fingers through his faded blue mohawk, and eyeing the dark roots that were beginning to show. 

Might be time to re-dye it. Maybe change the color. I’ll let the kids decide. 

It was trivial, he knew, but he was sad at the thought of covering the color Oksann had so carefully crafted with the kids. It felt like one of the last remnants of their time on Sorgan, one of the last things they’d done with Ry and Oks before they’d uprooted and run. He sighed. 

Our life is here now. And that’s good.

Ry would tell me I’m being an idiot anyway. 

He met his own brown eyes in the mirror, the ones he shared with his brothers. It almost felt as if the next thought came from Crater or Howzer or Two-Pint or any of the ones he was closest with that had offered him advice when it was needed. 

You’ll never be settled if you keep looking back.

—

“Yeah, you just need a new power coupler and heating core. Both pretty standard parts, I think. I’ll talk with Grinz tomorrow and see if he’s able to pull some strings and get them here before it gets too cold,” Chuck informed Endi, wiping the grease off his palms. He’d just crawled out from under the heating unit just outside the apartment’s back door, dusting himself off before Endi handed him a rag to clean off his hands. She stood in the doorway, leaning against it with one shoulder, smiling in that way that made Chuck’s heart flutter. 

“What do you think the parts will cost me?” she asked. 

He shrugged. “Not sure. When I was a soldier, everything was funded by the Republic, so cost really wasn’t an issue. I’ll see if I can barter a favor for Grinz if it’s too bad.” 

“You don’t have to do that, Chuckles.”

“I know, but I will anyway.” He gave her a grin, and he wasn’t certain, but it seemed she flushed a bit. 

“Well, come on in and get yourself cleaned up then. Can’t have you going to the festival with that grease smear on your chin.” 

Chuckles ducked his head, rubbing the back of his neck to hide the heat in his face. Stepping back inside, he squeezed past Endi in the hall, making the way to her kitchen and running the water in her sink to better clean his hands. Glancing out the window, he noted the sun was almost fully below the horizon. 

Better hurry if we’re going to make the fireworks. 

“Here.” Endi appeared at his side, handing him a glass of ice water. He took it and drank greedily, some of the water sliding past the corner of his mouth and running down his chin and throat. When he finished, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, swiping at the trails of water that dipped below his shirt. He noted the way Endi’s eyes followed his fingers, her pupils seeming to widen slightly when he nudged the collar of his shirt aside to dab at the dribbles. 

“Sorry I’m such a sweaty, dusty mess,” he mumbled sheepishly. “I meant to try and keep myself clean, but I wanted to do that repair right. Or as right as I could right now.” He tugged nervously at his mohawk, trying not to think about how sweaty the roots felt. 

“And I appreciate that,” she replied, taking the empty glass back from him and setting it on her counter. Taking a dish towel from the edge of the sink, she dabbed at his chin. “There, now you’re a little more presentable.” Her eyes flicked to where his fingers were still woven into his hair. 

“That’s your nervous tell, isn’t it? When you tug like that?”

Chuck’s face felt as though it was on fire. “I suppose. I’ve always done it ever since I started wearing it like this, even before I started dyeing it.” 

Endi smiled. “Looks like you’re due for a touch-up soon. Grinz can get you about any color you want. Do you think you’ll change things up?”

Chuckles shrugged. “Not sure. I let the kids pick last time, and I’m a bit partial to it, but we’ll see.” 

Endi set the towel on the counter, stepping closer to Chuckles. He could smell her perfume again, although at this point, he wasn’t sure if it was perfume or just her. It was intoxicating, and he swallowed hard as she reached up to run her fingers through his fading mohawk. “I like the blue,” she said softly. “You should keep it.” Her fingers trailed through his hair, and he sucked in a sharp breath at her nearness. She’d touched him before of course, but it had always been innocent, either a hand resting on his arm or accidentally grazing his skin. This felt intentional, like a test to see how he’d respond. Endi’s eyes met his, gauging his reaction, her golden irises hopeful but hesitant. 

Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.

When he didn’t move, she allowed her fingertips to graze his cheek, tracing the scar at the corner of his mouth before her palm rested against the side of his face. He leaned into it, feeling her warmth against his skin. Her breath stuttered. The two of them stared at each other, clearly waiting to see what the other would do now that lines had been deliberately crossed. The only sounds Chuckles could hear was Endi’s breathing and his own blood pounding in his ears. He was frozen, unsure of what to do until she began to withdraw her hand.

He didn’t want her to stop touching him. 

He wanted her. 

Settled. You could be settled. Maybe with her.

Endi gave him a sheepish grin, opening her mouth to offer an apology, but she didn’t get a single word out. Chuckles crashed his lips against hers just as the festival’s first firework exploded outside the kitchen window.

A/N: Two-Pint is the fantastic @teletraan-meets-jarvis's creation and is introduced in her story "Pieces". If you love compelling Jedi and clone OCs, the Wolfpack, and general shenanigans combined with a delicious slow burn, then I highly recommend you check it out!